Category: Malta

As expected, all Maltese news portals carry with prominence the tragic news from Genoa as leading items. The latest update is that the death toll is expected to be 35 according to civil protection sources.

These are the three main stories in their initial sections of their site. … Be Informed

Net News reports that Opposition leader Adrian Delia has presented an application before the Constitutional Court seeking a complete copy of the Egrant inquiry report. The Times reports that Dr Delia said the report should be presented to the opposition so that it could fulfil its constitutional function, and in the interests of freedom of expression because expression had to be based on correct information.

The Maltese portals lead with the follow up on the murder of Shannon Mak. Today, a 22 year-old Dutch national Jelle Rijmpa was charged with the murder of Dutch woman Shannon Mak.

The Malta Independentsays that “wearing a white shirt and jeans the accused pleaded not guilty and requested bail, on the basis that he has a permanent residence in Malta, is a European national and has a fixed job.” Malta Today adds that the defence also argued that the accused had many ties to Malta, including his job in the igaming sector.

In recent days and weeks the issue of migration has been quite a hot issue in the Mediterranean and in the United States. At times the issue was debated more from an emotional perspective than a rational perspective.

The Italian Government has decided to put its foot down and not accept any more ships, which are operated by NGO’s and which pick up immigrants from the Mediterranean Sea, from docking in Italian ports.… Be Informed

At the end of the 53-hour BOV Marigold Volleyball Marathon 2018 at midnight of Sunday July 1st, it was all smiles, champagne showers and gratitude; gratitude towards 40 or so young male and female players, coaches, referees, score keepers, medical doctors, physiotherapists and nurses, who decided to challenge the heat of the day and the stillness of the night and play 53 hours of non-stop Volleyball in aid of Id-Dar tal-Providenza.… Be Informed

The Malta Independent: Nine migrants have been arrested by the police after they were found loitering in Marsascala after landing there by boat, the police said.

The migrants landed near the Marsascala waterpolo pitch at about 6.30pm, and the police are searching the area in case there were more who managed to run away before the arrival of police officers.… Be Informed

Washington Times: Spain says Barcelona will be the docking port for an aid boat that rescued 60 migrants in waters near Libya but was not allowed to land by both Italy and Malta.

A spokesman with the prime minister’s office said the Open Arms boat, run under Spanish flag by the Barcelona-based aid group Proactiva Open Arms, had the right to dock in the eastern city.… Be Informed

Times of Malta: An NGO boat with around 50 rescued migrants on board should head to Malta because it provided the closest port, Italy’s right-wing deputy prime minister said on Saturday, sparking a fresh diplomatic spat between the neighbouring countries.

But a Maltese government clarified at once that the closest port to the vessel was actually Lampedusa, which falls under Italy’s responsibility.… Be Informed

The 53-hour BOV Marigold Volleyball Marathon for Id-Dar tal-Providenza this year enters into its 10th edition.

The Volleyball Marathon was officially inaugurated earlier this evening by H.E. Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta who visited the Home and was given a warm welcome by Fr Martin Micallef, Director of the Home and Ms Elvia George, Chief Finance Officer at Bank of Valletta and member on the Board of the Marigold Foundation – BOV in the Community.… Be Informed

Photographer Michael Galea took this photo of the moon. The close up photo shows the Tycho crater which appears prominently in the southern lunar hemisphere and was named after the great Danish mathematician and astronomer Tycho Brahe.… Be Informed

“Industry ICT certifications are increasingly becoming more preferred than formal certifications because business feels that the requirements that these certifications hold are closer to the requirements needed by the industry at large.”

This was stated by Carm Cachia from the eSkills Malta Foundation during the presentation of prizes to three young Maltese students who participated in the first edition of the Microsoft Office Championship.… Be Informed

Following recent events that brought to the fore information that was previously unknown, Malta needs to ascertain that operations being conducted by entities using its port services and operating within the area of Maltese responsibility are in accordance with national and international rules. … Be Informed

Italy and Malta are refusing to allow a migrant rescue ship operated by the award-winning Spanish charity Proactiva Open Arms to enter their territorial waters, the NGO tweeted on Thursday.
“Italy and Malta are refusing to allow the ship Open Arms access to their territorial waters.… Be Informed